cm9 or pm9

[Jumeda33]

Good Morning and I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. I am new to this forum, (just signed up this a.m.) and want to ask the question probably everyone is asking. I am going to the gun show next month. Do I get the PM9 or the CM9. I have been reading all (or the few) differences in them. I kind of like all black better but that puts me in the PM9 real expensive series. So, comparatively speaking if I am looking two tone, I like the matte stainless better than regular stainless, does it matter which one I go for?
Thanks in advance for your input.
David

[Ressom]

Hi, welcome!

I went with a CM9... the 'upgrades' with the PM9 didn't make a difference to me. The CM9 comes from the factory with a bead blasted stainless slide (matte). It holds up very well to holster wear.

[rkirk]

Welcome to the forum, I have two Kahr pistols. A CW9 and CM9! Both pistols are outstanding. The CM9 is a little heavy for pocket carry, but I do carry it in Dockers and blue jeans. It is tough to pull from jeans and I really prefer to carry the CM9 on the belt in either a IWB CTAC holster or OWB in a pancake holster. The CM9 disappears when carried in these holsters. There is not much difference between the CW9 and CM9 as far as weight and thickness! The real plus for the CM9 is the grip length. I bought the CW9 thinking that the grip length and extra .6 length in the barrel would help with recoil. That it does, but later shooting a friends PM9 I discovered the recoil was not that big a difference between the two pistols. I like both pistols but the CM9 is the one, when concealment is the most important issue. I don't see the need for the extras on a PM9. Buy the break in ammo and the holster to carry the CM9 with the difference in cost!

You will really like the CM9. Shoot safe,

-- Richard

[muggsy]

I went with the CM9 for the same reasons previously as stated by Ressom. I put the savings into night sights and spare magazines.

[Thunder71]

I'd recommend the PM9, you wont remember what you did with the $200 a year from now and to me it's worth every penny. Get what you want the first time around.

[Jumeda33]

Wow, thanks everybody so far for your input. Right now it looks like the CM9 is winning the opinion battle. And of course price battle. All other opinions are greatly appreciated. It sounds like I dress similar to rkirk. I usually wear some type of Dockers shorts or pants and shirts tucked in. Other than that it's soccer type shorts that have pockets and I wear T-shirts with those.
Thanks,
David

[Markis82]

There are 5 real differences between the two.

1) The rifling is different - The PM has an expensive polygonal rifling. The CM has conventional rifling (no practical difference in a gun you shoot at close distances, besides the CM is very accurate with it's conventional rifling)

2) This front sight - With the PM the front sight is dovetailed. With the CM it is pinned. (there are more aftermarket choices in the dovetail than the pinned, if you're making a switch to night sights, etc... However, it is more difficult to change out the dovetail than the pinned)

3) The slide release lever in the PM is one piece milled. The CM it is 2 pieces attached. (again no practical difference to me)

4) The engraving - PM has a move expensive technique for engraving the name etc on the slide, also a few more machined details on the slide - (totally cosmetic)

5) The PM comes with two mags a 6 round and a 7 round. The CM comes with only a 6 round mag.

Personally, I have a limited budget. So when making a purchase, I consider all the factors. When looking at what you get for the price difference between the two models, I went with the CM hands down. I am VERY happy with my choice. If I had to do it all over again, I'd make the same decision.

[dh2683]

Welcome to the Forum.

Never shot the Pm so I don't know.Biggest difference I saw was extra Mag. & better barrel on the PM. Have approx. 500 rds through my CM9 & love it. Easy to shoot & carry. When I compared the cost difference for the PM it was to much for me. I bought a extra mag, holster ammo & was still ahead buying the CM.
Good Luck

[Jumeda33]

Some great points brought up. Looks won't matter, it will be in a holster or a pocket. Sights won't matter, going to just point and shoot at bad guy if need be. I can buy another mag for about 30.00. I think you guys can see I am talking myself into the CM. Markis - just wondering, can you buy the PM slide release lever by itself and replace it on the CM. Not that I probably would, but just wondering.
Thanks,
David

[apdturbo]

i'm a top model type of person so it had to be the pm9 all black for me, i wouldn't go back and was amazed at the accuracy of the pm9 when put at distance.

[Markis82]

Some great points brought up. Looks won't matter, it will be in a holster or a pocket. Sights won't matter, going to just point and shoot at bad guy if need be. I can buy another mag for about 30.00. I think you guys can see I am talking myself into the CM. Markis - just wondering, can you buy the PM slide release lever by itself and replace it on the CM. Not that I probably would, but just wondering.
Thanks,
DavidThe PM slide release lever is available from Kahr as part #028PM9 (http://www.kahr.com/Pistol-Parts/Kahr-028PM9-Slide-Stop.asp) for $24.20. I have no personal knowledge if it will fit or function properly or not in the CM. As a guess I'd say it would since the two models are so similar. Looking at the Kahr website I see the price for the CM slide stop is the same. So I don't know if the difference between the two is BS or not.

[FLBri]

I own a PM9 Black Rose edition and love it.
If I had to do it again, with the CM9 being available, I don't know what I would do. I appreciate the cosmetic upgrades. Function between the two is pretty irrelevant. The quality is the same. Results are the same for SD intentions.
I like the cute appointments on the PM9 but admittedly, if you aren't willing to invest mooney in that, the CM9 is the answer.
And yes, you can buy an extra magazine and a slide stop lever .... but than you are halfway to the PM9!

I guess I would buy the PM9 again, but it's all about warm and fuzzies ... not any practical reasons.

[sierrajb]

Some great points brought up. Looks won't matter, it will be in a holster or a pocket. Sights won't matter, going to just point and shoot at bad guy if need be. I can buy another mag for about 30.00. I think you guys can see I am talking myself into the CM. Markis - just wondering, can you buy the PM slide release lever by itself and replace it on the CM. Not that I probably would, but just wondering.
Thanks,
David

First of all, WELCOME to the forum! You'll love it here.

Looking at your post, I'd have to ask:
1. If looks doesn't matter, would you be upset if you received a brand new gun with scratches or blemishes in the finish? Probably so.
2. If sights don't matter, why have them installed anyway?
3. Why would you want a PM slide release if it's not marginally "better" than a two-piece on the CM?

The fact that you are already entertaining the idea of making a CM as close to a PM without having to pay for all the other "bells and whistles" tells me there's something deep inside you that really wants a PM.

I'll side with Thunder71 on this one, enjoy no regrets or "wondering" about how to improve my PM9, and never have to wear a t-shirt that says, "I settled for a CM and bought this shirt."

Seriously, BOTH guns will perform with excellence on the range and in a life-saving situation. Go with YOUR gut and budget, and don't let a forum poll decide for you. You won't regret buying either gun.

[JFootin]

Welcome to the forum! :) IMO, the only justification for going the extra money for the PM9 is if you really got to have the black finish and the night sights. If you have the money and that is what you want, cool. But it looks like you, like many of us, are satisfied with the brushed stainless finish and the standard sights. So the CM9 is the right choice for you.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that the front sight on the CM9 is plastic, so you need to be careful not to whack it on something because it can break. Not expensive to replace, though, if it happens. And Kahr would probably send you one for free under warranty.

You can entirely forget about the slide stop lever. Never seen one get broken or anything. In fact, PM9 levers can be out of spec or something. So, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! :D

[JFootin]

Here is what, IMO, you should look at to carry your CM9 in: the PJ Clip-on IWB Holster (http://pjholster.com/?page_id=37). It is made of Kydex, weighs about an ounce—light as a feather. Very good adjustable retention. Available in a tuckable version, or not. I have one for my CM9. Wear it at about 8:30. It is the only holster I own that literally vanishes from my consciousness when I am wearing the gun in it! I mean I cannot feel it there AT ALL, can't feel the weight of the gun there, or its mass when I move around. It and the gun seem to become part of my body. I don't have pics of mine, yet, but here are a couple of nice pics of one made for a Walther PPS.

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee486/John_England/Miscellanious%20Guns%20and%20Holsters/PJIWBBeltHookHolster-1.jpg
http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee486/John_England/Miscellanious%20Guns%20and%20Holsters/PJIWBBeltHookHolsterBack.jpg

Note how there is not one extra millimeter of length or width. It holds the gun up tight against your body. It is SUPER THIN. It has a small but effective sweat shield that doesn't get in the way when you draw. And this absolutely perfect 24/7 carry holster is only $40 shipped from one of the nicest guys in the holster business!

[Markis82]

Welcome to the forum! :) IMO, the only justification for going the extra money for the PM9 is if you really got to have the black finish and the night sights. If you have the money and that is what you want, cool. But it looks like you, like many of us, are satisfied with the brushed stainless finish and the standard sights. So the CM9 is the right choice for you.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that the front sight on the CM9 is plastic, so you need to be careful not to whack it on something because it can break. Not expensive to replace, though, if it happens. And Kahr would probably send you one for free under warranty.

You can entirely forget about the slide stop lever. Never seen one get broken or anything. In fact, PM9 levers can be out of spec or something. So, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! :DI have changed out my stock sights both front and rear for night sights on my CM9. They are available from Kahr and Dawson for the CM. With the night sights and extra 6 round mag, it still cost less than a PM9 without night sights.

[JFootin]

I have changed out my stock sights both front and rear for night sights on my CM9. They are available from Kahr and Dawson for the CM. With the night sights and extra 6 round mag, it still cost less than a PM9 without night sights.

That's cool. :) I don't function, cannot stand and balance in pitch dark. Therefore, I have night lights in several key places around my home. And if I am out at night, I am never in a pitch dark situation. So I came to the conclusion that I don't need night sights. A SD situation is most likely going to be point and shoot at close range anyway. JMHO.

[Thunder71]

I have changed out my stock sights both front and rear for night sights on my CM9. They are available from Kahr and Dawson for the CM. With the night sights and extra 6 round mag, it still cost less than a PM9 without night sights.

And I've read quite a few reports of them breaking off the CM9.

[OldLincoln]

Another welcome, Jumeda, glad you're here. The CM9 wasn't available when I bought or I would have got it instead of the PM9. I was on a budget and I wanted a carry gun. I like my PM9 a lot but would still buy a CM9 if doing it over.

My reasoning is my carry gun is a tool not a showpiece. It took me a long time to work through that, being afraid of a scratch or whatever, but I've arrived. I think that's an individual decision and others will go the other way. I have a friend that wears ostrich skin boots and is comfortable doing so. He would want the fanciest carry gun likely with engraving. A great friend but we're very different that way. So it another thing to consider.

Fun decision to get to make however.

[Markis82]

And I've read quite a few reports of them breaking off the CM9.I am award of only one instance here on KahrTalk that has had that problem and for this individual it has happen more than once after a factory installation. In this case I have to say that it is gun specific, possibly that the barrel is/was hitting the mounting screw because the recess in the slide was not deep enough. The Trijicon front sight has two metal posts and when installed correctly with loctite and the provided screw, I cannot see them breaking off. Conversely, the stock plastic front sight was very easy to break off during my installation of the night sight.

[joe d]

I bought a Cm9...I love it...It runs flawlessly...That's all I care about...

[Thunder71]

Mark, it's happened far more than one time, just FYI.

[Markis82]

Mark, it's happened far more than one time, just FYI.I'm sure it has. I did say that I'm aware of only one thread HERE on KAHRTALK. Here and other cases it would be a symptom of an improper installation (ie, not using red loctite between the sight and the slide) or some other specific situation as opposed to a flaw in the design of the sight or the gun's means of mounting the sight. Again, the sight has 2 medal posts that run thru the slide. One is solid the other has a screw loctited into it, making it solid. Furthermore, the CM front sight type of attachment is very similar to Glocks way of attaching the front sight. I cannot remember hearing anything regarding front sights breaking off of Glocks. So, I would not let that influence any decision when comparing the PM9 to the CM9.

[muggsy]

Some great points brought up. Looks won't matter, it will be in a holster or a pocket. Sights won't matter, going to just point and shoot at bad guy if need be. I can buy another mag for about 30.00. I think you guys can see I am talking myself into the CM. Markis - just wondering, can you buy the PM slide release lever by itself and replace it on the CM. Not that I probably would, but just wondering.
Thanks,
David

If you reload, Kahr doesn't recommend using cast lead projectiles in the PM9 with the polygonal rifled barrel. The CM9 handles lead projectiles very well.

[el_chupo_]

Check this thread out:

http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=9316

My post is number 41. I share my thoughts, and reasons.

I just re-read that post, but I will add that the benefit of buying what you WANT is hard to overcome. As stated in the thread I linked, a lot of people go to the PM9 because they wanted it to start.

But remember, $200 is ~ 900 rounds of brass cased 9mm (bought local, tax included), or the addition of a CT laser grip, if that catches your fancy.

[modestglock26]

I just recently traded into a PM9 DLC so you know what I would suggest. It's quite a beauty.

[John222]

And if you buy the CM9 before the end of the month, there is a free clip offer..

[Thunder71]

Oh no, you said the C word.

[Hognutz]

And if you buy the CM9 before the end of the month, there is a free clip offer..

Get down and give me ten. son..:D

[MikeyKahr]

Paper clips aren't that expensive I'm not sure why everyone is making a big deal of the free clip offer. ;-P

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